Refrigerator fbeight car



July 1, 1941- K. scHwEBs Re. 21,849 REFRIGERATOR FREIGHT ogm Original-Filed Sept. 9. 1957 mvENToR KENTl scHwEBs ATTORNEYS Reissuedv July 1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 21,1149 4 f i nm-moaaaroa maar csa Kent Schwelm, Hortonville, Wis.

original No. 2,136,894, dated November i5, 193s,

serial No. 163,065, september s, 1931. Appucauon for reissueMay 21, 1940, serial No.

20 Claims. This invention appertains tov shipping of perishable articles, and more particularly to refrigerator freight cars and trucks, and is an improvement on my Patent 2,159,406 of May 23, 1939.

In said patent, I illustrate means for continuously cir'culatingair through the foodstuffs and the ice bunkers lto facilitate the cooling `and keeping thereof, by the use of air-driven turbines.

It is, therefore, oneA of the primary objects of my invention to provide a pump mechanism operated in a novel manner from the car wheels for placing a liquid, such as oil, under pressure ,and utilizing the liquid for operating a turbine,

which,"in turn, is utilized for actuating the fan for circulating the air through the car.

A further salient object of my invention is to provide a rockable platform on one of the car trucks carrying a rotary pump and a drive shaft for the pump provided with a friction pulley yieldingly urged into engagement with one of the car truck wheels for continuously operating the pump, with novel means for leading the fluid under pressure from the pump to the turbine.

A further object of my invention is to provideV a novel arrangement of pipes and valves for connecting the rotary pump with the turbine,

whereby, irrespective of the direction oi' movement of the car, the Iturbine will` be continuously driven'fin one direction.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinaftermore specifically described, claimed, 1

and Villustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

' which drawing:

preferably at the upper end of the bunker compartment an air circulating fan i0. which is. adapted to circulate air between the ice or heating means in the bunker compartment to and around the foodstuffs in the'storagecompart-l ment. It is to be understood that a fan is preferably provided at each end of the car. The fan I0 is adapted to be driven by a turbine Il, which can be of any desired make or character. If preferred, means can be provided for adjusting the position of the fan and turbine, and, if

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section 3 through a refrigerated freight car, showing my `improved appliance incorporated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the novel arrangement of pipes and valves for connecting the rotary pump with the turbine,

whereby to rotate the turbine continuously in one direction. irrespective ofthe direction of rotation of the pump.

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating the means utilized for operating the pump.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar y reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the

letter F'generally indicates a refrigerator freight car, and the same embodies the usual insulated body 5 having a partition l forming abunker compartment 6 separate from the storage com-` partment for the reception of ice 1, or heating means. iThe ice rests on a grating I arranged above the level ofthe car door. The body of the car is likewise provided with a suitable perforated false bottom :9, on which the foodstuffs to be shipped Aare placed. .Y

p "n accordance witl. :cy invention. I arrange desired, the same can be mounted within a suitable hood l2.

I n accordance with my invention, I provide novel means for supplying fluid under pressure to the turbine, and this means consists of a rotary pump I3 with the drive shaft l1 of the pump keyed or otherwise secured to a friction pulley, Il, which is adapted to rest upon the periphery of one of the car wheels I9 of the cartruck i8.-

This rotary pump I3 is mounted upon a platform or lever I l. 'I'he lever Il is rockably mounted at one end, as at lli, on a suitable portion of one of the trucks I3 of the freight car. When a car rounds a curve the truck moves relative to the car body in a horizontal plane and in my arrangement the pulley moves with the truck wheel and maintains its engagement therewith.

Spring means 2U may be providedv for normally urging the lever Il downwardly so that the friction pulley I3 will be held continuously in engagement with its car wheel. The lever or platform Il can also have mounted thereon a reservoir tank 2| for the liquid which is to beplaced under pressure. I prefer'to utilize oil, as oil will" not freeze during the winter season and will serveV as means for maintaining the pump ifi good working condition at all times.

By referring to Figure 2, it `can be seen that I connect with the ports 22 and 23 of the pump I3, liquid-conducting pipes 24 and 25 respectively. Thesepipes 2l' and 25 are in turn connected by T-couplings with pipes 26 and 21. The pipes 28 .and 21A, at one side, are connected with a pipe 28, which leads to the reservoir tank 2|.

'Ihepipes'26 and 2l are connected Aon the'other ,one-way check valves 32 and 33. The pipe 23 'has a pressure relief valve 34 interposed in the length thereof and this relief valve is connected with a by-pass pipe'35 which leads to the reservoir 2l so as to regulate the pressure of the liquid when delivered to theV turbine. As 4the pump is operated by a wheelfof the truck afast' moving train might build up too great a prelsure against the turbine. All of these pipes and valves mentioned are preferably mounted upon the rocking platform or lever I4, and fe'ed and returnvpipes 36 and 31 are arranged in the'freight car. The feed pipe 36 is connected with the pipe 29 byfiexible pipe or hose 38, and the return pipe 31 is connected with the'reservoir 2| by flexible pipe or hose 3,9.

The pipe 36 supplies fluidr under pressure to one or more nozzles 40 for supplying the liquid under pressure to the -buckets of the turbine wheel. As the oil leavesthe turbine wheel, the

same is collected in the turbine casing and 'ows back into the reservoir through the pipes 31 and 39.

The arrangement of the pipes and valves on the car truck is such that, irrespective of the direction of the rotation of the pump by the car wheels or, in other words, irrespective of the direction of movement of the car and train the turbine will be driven continuously in one direction. v

By referring to Fig. 2 and presuming that the pump is driven in a direction for forcing liquid 'under pressure through the pipe 2l and for draw- If the pump is driven in a reverse direction,-

in 'a refrigerator car, said means including a turbine, a pump'for delivering liquid under pressure to the turbine, means. for driving the pump from a moving part of the car, said lastmentioned means being movable toward andl away from the moving part of the car, whereby to permit the driving of the pump from a source other than the car when the car is standing still and when said driving means is away from the moving part of the car, and means for leading the liquid from the pump continuously in one direction 'to the turbine, irrespective of the direction of rotation of the pump.

2. Means for operatinga fan for `circulating air in a refrigerator car, said means including a turbine, a 'rotary pump, means for driving `the pump from a moving part of the car, a. feed pipe for liquid under pressure leading from the pump to the turbine, a return line for spent liquid, leading from the turbine to the pump, said return line having a reservoir therein, oppositely directed pipes' connected with the ports of the pump, and

v arsystem of pipes and one-way check valves for and the fluid is forced under pressure through the pipe 25, and liquid is drawn -into the pump from the pipe 24, then the one-way check valve 33 will be opened and the liquid will be supplied to the turbine through the pipe 29 and pipe 3B. The liquid under pressure will seat the one-way check. valve 32, and suction in the pipe 2( will open the one-way check valve 3l), and thus liquid will be drawn from the reservoir 2| to the pump. A line pipe vIl can be connected with the pipe 39 for conductingfliquid under pressure to the turbine disposed at the opposite end of the car.

It is tov be understood that various arrangements of the lever or platform Il can be had,`

and that the same can be mounted in various manners on'the car truck, and that the arrangement shown is'only by the .way of illustration. If desired, the tank itself can form the lever `or part thereof, and the tank can carry the for circulating air through the car.

pump and the check and safety valves.

While I have referred to the bunker 8 as receiving ice, it is to-be understood that. in the winter season a heater may be substituted for the ice, whereby the foodstuffs will be maintained against freezing..

During loading and while the car is standing still, extraneous motors can be utilized for operconnecting the last mentioned pipes with the feed and return pipes for continuously delivering liquid under pressure tothe feed pipe; irrespective of the direction of rotation of the pump.

3. In a refrigerator car having a storage comi partment and a bunker therein, of an air-circulating fan arranged adjacent to the bunkerfor drawing air therethrough and for delivering the air into the storage compartment and means for operating the fan including a turbine, a rotary pump, a reservoir for liquid, a lever rockably mounted at one end upon 'one of .the trucks of the car carrying the pump and the reservoir, a friction pulley connected with the drive shaft of the pump, spring means engaging the lever normally holding'the friction pulley in engagement with one of thev car wheels of the car truck, a feed pipe for conducting liquid under pressure of l the turbine, a return pipe for conducting spent direction to the turbine, irrespective of the direcating the pump, or other means can be provided It is also to. be understood that while i have shown the pumpdriven from the car wheel, the pump can be driven in any preferred manner from any moving part of the car. Likewise, a centrifugal or other positive air displacement l pump can `be utilized.

Changes in details may be made without departing lfrom the' spirit .orthe 'scope of myinven-` tion. but what I claim as new is:

1. Meansfor operating a fan for circulating air liquid from the turbine to the reservoir, oppositely directed pipes connected with the ports of the pump, branch pipes connected kwith the las't mentioned pipes having one-way check valves at their terminals, means connecting the check valves at one side of the reservoir, and means connecting the check valves at the other side to the feed pipe.

4. Means for operating a. fan for circulating air in a refrigerator car, said means including a turbine, a pump delivering liquid under pressure to saidA turbine, means for .separating air from said liquid caused by the liquidfbeing forced against said turbine, means for driving the pump from a wheel of the truck of the car, and means for providing a continuous flow of liquid-in one tion of movement of the car.

5. Meana` for operating a fan for circulating air in a refrigerator car, said means including a turbine, a pump delivering liquid under pressure through a pipe system to said turbine, means for separating air from said liquid caused by the liquid being forced against said turbine, means for driving the pump from a wheel of the truck of the car, means for providing a continuous flow of liquid in one direction to the turbine, irrespective of the direction of movement of the car. and a by-pass including a check valve in said pipe system to prevent the pump -fromcausing too great a pressure of the liquid against the turbine.

6. A refrigerator car having a bu'nket'compartment separate from a storage compartment. means to provide air communication between said compartments, and a truck comprising a frame supported by wheels in combination with an air circulating fan for circulating air between said compartments through said means, a turbine for operating said fan, a pump for delivering liquid under pressure to said turbine for operation thereof, a pulley for operation ofsaid pump, said pulley adapted to rest upon the periphery of one of said whee1s, a pipe system between said pump and said turbine, and a platform rockably mounted upon said truck frame, said pulley and said pump being mounted upon said platform, said pipe system being provided with flexible connections between the elements mounted on the platforml and the elements of the car body.

7. A refrigerator car including a body, a truck comprising a. frame supported by wheels in combination with an air circulating fan in the car body, a turbine for operating said fan, a pump for delivering liquid under pressure to said tur- -bine for operation-thereofs a pulley for operation of said pump, said pulley adapted to rest upony the riphery of one' of said wheels for rotation thereof by the wheel when the car is moving, and a platform rockably mounted upon 'said truck frame independently of the car body,`said pulley and said pump being mounted upon said platiorm.

8. A structure as defined in` claim 7 wherein means are provided to yieldingly urge said pulley continuously in engagement with said wheel.

9. A structure as defined in claim 'i wherein means are provided to yieldingly urge said pulley continuously in engagement with said wheel,

said means including a rod secured to said truckv frame and extending upwardly through said platform, a spring embracing the post of said rod, said spring being under compression.

l0. Means for operating a fan for circulating air in a` refrigerator car, said means including a turbine, a'rotary pump, means'for driving said pump from a rotating part of the truck of the car, a feed line for liquid under pressure leading from the pump to the turbine, a return line for spent liquid from the turbine to a reservoir and thence to the pump. f

11. A structure as defined in claim l including a. relief valve in the feed 'line and a line connecting said valve and said reservoir.

12. Means for operating a fan for circulating air in a refrigerator car, said means including a turbine, a rotary pump, means for driving said pump-from a rotating part of the truck of the ca r, a feed line for liquid under pressure leading from the pump to the turbine, a return line for Vspent liquidv from the turbine to the upper part of a reservoir and from-the lower part of the reservoir tothe pump,.said reservoir being at a higher elevation than said pump.

13. Means for operating afan for circulating I air in a refrigerator canisaid means including a` pipe system. a turbine, a `variable speed pump producing a pressure of liquid in said systemin proportion to the speed thereof for delivering liquid in one direction to said turbine irrespective of the direction of movement ofthe car,

'means for driving said pump from a rotating part of the truck of the car, and a by-pass in said system including aV pressurev relief valve.`

14. Means for operating a fanrf'or circulating `air in a refrigerator car, said means including a turbine, a rotary pump, 4a pulley engageable with 'la rotating part of one of the trucks of the car for operating said pump, a feed 'line for liquid under pressure from the pump to the turbine, a return line for spent liquid from the turbine to the pump, and a liquid reservoir in said return line.

15. Means for operating a fan for circulating air in a refrigerator car, said means including a turbine, a rotary pump, a pulley engageable with a rotating part of one of the trucks of the car for operating said pump, a feed line for liquid under pressure from the pump to the turbine, and a return line for spent liquid from the tur-A bine to the pump, said pulley being supported by the car structure so as to keep the pulley in continuous engagement with said rotating part irrespective of the vrelative movement between the car body and the wheeled trucks.

16. A structure as defined in claim l5 wherein the` pulley and pump are mounted upon/a single axle for simultaneous operation, said pulley being 'supported by the car structure so as to keepthe pulley in continuous engagement with said rotatingpart-'irrespective o f the relative movement between the car body Vand the wheeled trucks.

17. Astructure as defined in claim 15 includ- Y 300mg means to yieldingly press said pulley continuously in engagement with said rotating part.

f 18.'A structure as defined in claim 15 includ- 19. A refrigerator car havinga partition sepay rating a bunker compartment from the storage compartment, openings `adjacent the upper and 40 for air communication ments, an air circulating fan in the upper part. of saidA openings for drawing airjrom one of Vsaid compartments and delivering it to the other of said compartments; means for operating said fan includingfa turbine; a pump, means for -driving said pump, a feed line for liquid under pressure leading from the pump to the turbine, and a return line for spent liquid from the turbine. to the pump, said feed line and .return line being located within said partition.

2U. A refrigerator car having a partition separating a bunker compartment from the'storage compartment, openings adjacentl the upper and lower parts of said partition to provide means ments, an air circulating fan in the upper part of said openings for drawing air from one of said compartments and delivering it to the other of said compartments', means for operating said sure leading from the pump to the turbine, and a, return line .for spent `liquid from the turbine the return line, said feed line and return' line being located within said partition andsaidreservoir and said' pump being located below the car body.A KENT SCHWEBS.

for air communication between said compart-v lower parts of .said ypartition to provide means tween said compartfan including a turbine, a pump, means for driving said pump, a feed line for liquid under presto the pump, and a reservoir for said liquid in 

